Definition

1. Noun:
   • An immune response: A specific biological reaction within the immune system.
   • Inactivation of a complement: The process where an antigen-antibody complex binds to and consumes a complement protein, rendering it unavailable for other immune reactions.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The laboratory test detected the disease through complement fixation.
  • A positive complement fixation result indicates a current or past infection.

Advanced Usage

• "complement-fixation test": A diagnostic test that uses the principle of complement fixation to detect the presence of specific antibodies or antigens.
  • The Wassermann test is a classic complement-fixation test for syphilis.

Variants and Related Words

• Complement (n): A group of proteins in blood serum that aids the immune response.
• Fix (v): To make stable or permanent; in this context, to bind and inactivate.
• Fixation (n): The process of being fixed.

Synonyms

• Immune complex reaction: A reaction involving antigen-antibody complexes.
• Serological reaction: A reaction detected in blood serum.

Related Phrases

• To fix complement: The action of an antigen-antibody complex binding and consuming complement.
  • These antibodies can fix complement, leading to cell lysis.

Related Idioms

(This term is highly technical and specific to immunology; it is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions.)

Noun

1. an immune response in which an antigen-antibody combination inactivates a complement (so it is unavailable to participate in a second antigen-antibody combination)